Pouring spout



March 12, 1968 C. c. BERKUS 3,372,846

POURING SPOUT Filed Aug. 29, 1966 l United States Patent Oilce 3,372,846POURING SPOUT Clyde C. Berkus, 8560 Tujunga Blvd., Sun Valley, Calif.91352 Filed Aug. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 575,602 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-479)ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An improved spout assembly for a plasticcontainer, or the like, is described herein. The spout assembly of theinvention is of the retractable type, and it provides a convenientcombination which, in the retracted position of the spout may provide asealing enclosure for the container, and which can be easily opened andthe spout extended to facilitate pouring. A vent valve is provided inthe assembly so that the liquid from the container may be pouredsmoothly and evenly through the extended spout.

The present invention relates generally to dispensers, and it relatesmore particularly to an improved retractable pouring spout assembly foruse, for example, with portable containers.

The retractable pouring spout assembly of the invention may be composed,for example, of plastic. The assembly may be threaded to a boss on thecontainer so as to form a closure for the container, and to form apouring spout for the contents of the container when the containerisopened.

The container itself may be formed of plastic, and it may be of anydesired size Ior shape. It is contemplated that the containers withwhich the improved spout assembly of the invention will be used arethose types which are readily portable. For example, the container maybe of the type used for gasoline; or for liquid polishes, varnishes,oil, and the like.

The improved spout assembly of the invention may be threaded onto theaforesaid boss and retracted into the container, so that the assemblycan receive a closure cap. Then, when it is desired to dispense theliquid from the container, the closure cap is removed, and the pouringspout is pulled out to an elongated position, for the comvenientdispensing of the liquid.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide animproved spout combination for use in conjunction with dispensingcontainers, and which normally forms a closure for the container and,alternately, an extendable pouring spout for dispensing the contents ofthe container.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved spoutassembly which is exceedingly simple t0 adjust between its closed andpouring positions.

Another important object of the invention is to provide such an improvedretractable spout assembly which is leak-proof, both when in thenormally closed condition, or when it is being used to dispense liquidthrough the pouring spout.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an improved spoutassembly which, although leak-proof, is constructed so as to permit thefree and unimpeded liow of liquid through the spout, when the spout isin its extended position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an improvedspout assembly which is simple in its concept, and which may be producedinexpensively and sold at a relatively low price.

In general, therefore, the main objective of the present invention is toprovide an improved spout assembly for a container of liquids; whichassembly has a dispensing 3,372,846 Patented Mar. 12, 1968 spout whichmay be extended to a pouring position, or retracted to a position Withinthe container, so as to permit sealing and closing of the opening bymeans of a usual closure cap.

In addition, the improved assembly of the invention includes a simpleilutter valve mechanism in an air vent which permits free and unimpededflow of the liquid through the spout, and yet which prevents leakage ordripping of the liquid from other parts of the assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent froma consideration of the following description, when the description istaken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a liquid container having aretractable spout assembly mounted thereon, the spout assembly beingconstructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention, and beingshown in its closed condition;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, takensubstantially along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, showing details of thespout assembly in its closed condition;

FIGURE 3 is a further fragmentary view, partially in section, showingthe spout assembly of the invention in condition so that the liquid inthe container may be readily poured through the assembly; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, slightly enlarged as comparedwith FIGURE 2, and showing the details of a Hutter valve mechanism whichis included in the assembly of the invention.

As shown in the drawings, the assembly of the invention may be used inconjunction with a container 1li of any shape or size. As is usually thecase, a boss 12 is provided in the top of the container 10,. and thisboss has threaded male threads so as to receive a usual closure cap 14,the closure cap having mating female threads. The container 10, theclosure cap 14, and the components of the spout assembly, to bedescribed, may be formed of plastic, if so desired.

The spout assembly itself includes a tubular plug 16 Which has a lowerskirt section with female threads, and which is adapted to be threadedonto the boss 12 in place of the closure cap 14. The plug 16 also has areentrant tubular central portion 17. An elongated tubular spout 18 ismounted in the plug 16. The spout 18 is slidable in the tubular portion17 of the plug 16, and in coaxial relationship with the tubular portion.

The under surface of the cap 14 has a central depression which receivesthe upper end of the spout 18 when the cap is in place. A dependingannular rim 1S is also formed on the under surface to engage and sealwith the top of the plug 16.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the spout 18 may be retracted down into thecontainer 10, and the closure cap 14 threaded onto a male threadedportion. of the plug 16. The rim 15 seals the cap to the plug 16 whenthe cap is threaded down on the plug, as shown.

Under the condition of FIGURE 2, the container 10 is in its closedcondition. When it is desired to dispense the contents of the container10, the closure cap 14 may be removed, as shown in FIGURE 3, and thespout 1S pulled out of the tubular portion 17 to its extended position.Then, the contents of the container 10 may be conveniently pouredthrough the spout 1S. As shown, the spout 18 has flanges 20 and 22 atits ends, so that the spout is retained within the plug 16.

A ring 23 is formed integrally with the spout, adjacent the flange 22.As shown in FIGURE 3, when the spout is fully extended, the ring 23snaps into the lower end of the tubular portion 17, so as to lock thespout in its extended position.

In order to facilitate the llow of liquid through the spout 18, a ventincluding a flutter valve mechanism 24, as best shown in FIGURE 4, ismounted in the plug 16.

As is well known, some venting means must be provided, since when it isattempted to pour a liquid from a closed container without adequateventing, air will attempt to enter through the spout thereby producingexcessive gurgling, or the flow of liquid through the spout will beimpeded completely.

The flutter valve mechanism includes a housing 26 which surrounds a ventopening in the plug 16, and a flutter valve 28 in the housing. The valve28 is entrapped in the housing 26, and moves between a first position inwhich it seals the opening in the plug, and to a second position inwhich the opening is unsealed.

The flutter valve 2.8 moves to its sealing position Whenever thepressure inside the container is greater than the external pressure, soas to prevent liquid from leaking through the assembly. However, whenthe pressure inside the container is less than the external pressure,the valve opens to vent the container, so that the liquid may continueto ow freely and unimpeded through the spout.

As mentioned above, all the components of the spout assembly may beformed of plastic, and the entire assembly may be fabricated simply andinexpensively. The

spout 13 may be assembled within the plug 16, merely by forcing itsRanged end 20 through the tubular portion 17.

The spout assembly of the invention is most advanta geous in that it canbe carried normally by the container 10, for example, in an unobtrusiveretracted configuration, with the container being closed by a usualclosure cap 14.

Then, the contents of the container may be dispensed conveniently andeasily, merely by removing the closure cap 14 and drawing the spout 18out to its extended position. During the pouring operation, the valve 24assures free and easy flow of the liquid, and without dripping orleakage.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved spout assembly which issimple and inexpensive to construct, and easy and satisfactory tooperate.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been described,modifications may be made. It is intended in the claims to cover allmodifications which come within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A retractable spout assembly for use with a container, said containerhaving an externally threaded boss surrounding an opening into theinterior thereof, and having closure cap with an internally threadedskirt portion dimensioned to be normally threadably received by saidthreaded boss, said spout assembly including: a tubular plug memberhaving an internally threaded lower skirt section of a diametercorresponding to that of said closure cap to be threadably received bysaid threaded boss in place of the aforesaid closure cap, and said plugmember having a tubular central section coaxial with the aforesaidsections; an elongated tubular spout member slidably mounted in theaforesaid tubular central section of said plug member and movablebetween a retracted position and an extended position with respect tosaid plug member, said tubular spout member having flanges formed ateach end thereof to retain said spout member in said plug; and ventingvalve means extending through said plug member on one side of saidtubular central section thereof to prevent a vacuum from forming in theinterior of the container during the flow of liquid through said spoutmember.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said venting valve meansincludes a housing formed in said plug member, and a valve membermovable in said housing to open said venting valve means when thepressure in said container is less than the external pressure, and toclose said venting valve means when the pressure in said container isgreater than the external pressure.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said closure cap has asealing rim formed on the under surface thereof to permit said closurecap to be threaded t-O said plug in sealing relationship therewith whensaid spout is in its retracted position.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 in which said elongated tubularspout member has an integral outer peripheral ring formed thereonadjacent the lower end thereof to be received by a mating groove in saidtubular central section of said plug member when said spout member ismoved to said extended position to hold said spout member in saidextended position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 804,009 11/1905 Howland 222-385 X2,519,705 8/1950 Ruther 222-525 X 2,815,879 12/1957 Hermes 222-525 X3,063,604 11/1962 Malpas 222-525 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner.

